In a surprising turn of events, it has been revealed that President Biden was unaware of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization for several days. The disclosure of this information was delayed, raising questions about transparency and communication within the White House. According to a source familiar with the matter, President Biden did not learn about Austin's hospitalization until National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan briefed him on Thursday afternoon.
The Pentagon had kept Austin's hospitalization a secret since New Year's Day, only publicly acknowledging it on Friday. The Defense Secretary had undergone an elective procedure that resulted in complications, leading to his hospitalization. While Austin assured everyone that he is on the road to recovery and eager to return to the Pentagon, he acknowledged the concerns raised about transparency in a recently released statement. He took responsibility for the decision not to disclose his medical condition promptly and promised to do better in the future.
